The American Religion Data Archive (ARDA) is a project based at Pennsylvania State University that aims to preserve and provide access to surveys and datasets on religion in the USA. Its site offers over 250 datasets consisting chiefly of surveys of the US population about religion (membership, attitudes, and topics such as Catholic sex abuse scandal) and surveys of members of specific congregations, denominations or religious professionals (including demographics). The surveys are conducted by a wide range of organizations (including Gallup and ABC News), and geographic and denominational coverage varies greatly. While data from the 1906‐1936 Censuses of Religious Bodies are included, datasets and surveys date primarily from the 1980s to the present. An impressive range of subjects is included. Topics covered vary from the level of civic engagement to attitudes to Islam and crime.
One of the most useful sections of the site offers access to 1952, 1971, 1980, 1990 and 2000 data on religious congregations and memberships from surveys conducted by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB). This represents the most comprehensive source of statistics on modern mainstream religious affiliation and congregations in the US. Survey data has been published in several standard reference works, the most recent being Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States 2000 (Jones, 2002). This edition also includes thematic maps and a CD‐ROM with files from the 1952, 1971, 1980, 1990 and 2000 studies in Excel, SPSS and comma‐delimited text formats. Users should note that this dataset specifically excludes African American congregations and less mainstream groups such as Wiccans. In comparison, Adherents.com, a free web site, offers US and international adherent and membership statistics on a greater number of religious groups culled from multiple sources. The ASARB dataset, while more limited in coverage, offers greater geographic and temporal consistency.
The ARDA site is simply organized. Multiple navigation tools are provided including a standard menu bar running down the left of the page. A search feature allows users to search study abstracts, survey questions and investigators. The advanced search allows users to restrict searches to categories of datasets. The search function is critical for users uncertain of which survey is likely to contain required data. However, as there are no assigned subject headings, users are essentially doing keyword searches, which may either return a large number of results or none at all. Files can also be browsed by title or broad category, a feature useful for those more familiar with the datasets. The site is simple to use and the lack of a help page is not a hindrance.
Online access to data is provided through two systems. Data in all files (except for the 1990 and 2000 congregations and membership data) can be accessed through a basic online analysis system. Users select a single variable or question and results are displayed in a pie chart, bar chart, cumulative bar chart and table. This variable is also cross‐tabulated with pre‐selected variables and results presented in tables. This option is invaluable for users wanting quick statistics. A slightly more sophisticated online tool is provided for 1990 and 2000 congregations and membership data and some census, crime and voting data. Working through a set of simple screens, users create maps (for states and the US) and bar charts and tables (for counties, metro areas, states and the USA). A second map can also be created for major religious groups, individual denominations, 2000 US Census variables (sample and 100 percent data), crime and voting, facilitating comparison and analysis. Two tables sorted by rank and alphabetically accompany each map. Unfortunately, users cannot download tables and charts from these two systems for further analysis and presentation. As with the rest of the site, the centre of the page is used for information selection and display. In this section, selection boxes and drop‐down menus are often too wide, forcing users to scroll horizontally to navigate and select menu items. Part of the text is then off the screen, making reading and selection difficult.
Users with more complex needs are served in two ways. They can use free MicroCase software provided by ARDA for more complicated univariate and cross‐tabulation queries or download data for use in their own statistical software packages. All data and codebooks are available for download in completely labelled SPSS portable file, Excel, MicroCase or ASCII formats. Another useful feature allows users to select questions from multiple surveys and save them to a custom Question Bank. This can then be printed or saved, allowing users to create personal surveys.
ARDA offers quick access to a large number of surveys, which would otherwise be difficult to locate. In addition, it offers comprehensive and consistent data on religious affiliation and membership. While this membership data is also available in printed format and despite some site design problems, the multiple reporting, mapping and analytical options provided by ARDA make this site invaluable for all levels of users in need of quantitative data related to religion in the USA.
